Stall for animals



(No Model.) --2"Sheets--'Sheet 1.

G. J. METZGER.

STALL FOR ANIMALS.

No. 303.942. Patented Aug. 19, 1884.

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(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2. G. J. METZGER.

STALL FOR ANIMALS.

No. 303,942. Patented Aug.19, 1884.

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STALL FOR ANIMALS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 303,942, dated August l9, 1884:.

Application filed August 8, less. (No model) To (4Z5 whom it may concern:

Be it known that LGEORGE J. Mnrnenmof the city of Buit'alo, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented new and useful Improvements in Stalls for Animals, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to an improvement in the construction of boxstalls, and has for its object to so construct the stall that it may be used as a box-stall, atfording ample room for the animal to move about, or as two ordinary stalls, as circunistances may require. Boxstalls are very desirable, but owing to the space which they oecupy they are not ordinarily used in small barns.

My invention is designed to provide a convertible stall for small barns, which may be ordinarily used in the form of two ordinary stalls, but is readily converted into aboX-stall when required, thereby affording the convenience of a box-stall without occupying any additional space.

My invention consists of the improvements in the construction of the stall, which will be hereinafter fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, consisting of two sheets, Figure 1 represents a perspective view of two of my improved stalls arranged side by side, one being turned into a box-stall, and one being arranged for use as two separate stalls. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one of the stalls. Fig. 3 is a front elevation, partly sectional, of the upper portion of one of the hangers. Fig. 4 is a sectional clevation of one of the hangers at right angles to Fig. 3.

Like letters of reference refer to like parts in the several figures.

A A A represent the walls, A the ceiling, and A" the floor, of the barn. I

B represents a fixed partition, arranged parallel with the wall A, and forming, with the latter and the wall A, three sides of the boxstall.

C represents the movable front wallot the box-stall, and D D the posts or liange1's,whieli support the wall upon tracks E F, arranged overhead.

G represents a gate or door which is hinged to the hanger D, and which is locked by a latch, g, to the post I), at the front end of the partition B.

The track E is made straight and arranged parallel. with the rear wall, A, while the front portion of the track F is curved in the arc of a circle,so that the post D will move easily in pushing it backward or forward when changing the posit-ion of the wall 0. Each of the tracks E and F is composed of two parallel rails, e c and ff, respectively arranged at a suitable distance apart, and supported by brackets H H, secured to the ceilin The hangers or posts D D are supported on the tracks E F by rollers I running on the tracks and turning on horizontal axles The latter are secured to a frame, J, which extends downwardly from the rollers between the two rails to the respective posts 1) D, and is swivcled on a vertical bolt, j, secured to the post by a key, j, or other suitable means,and provided above the frame J with a nut and washer, k, by which means the post rests on the frame J. The frame J is provided between the two rails with branches or arms L, arranged parallel with the rails, and carrying horizontal rollers Z, which bear against the inner sides of the two rails of each track and steady the frame J and the rollers I, mounted thereon.

in is a cross-piece connecting the front ends of the two rails of the track F, and a is a latch which is pivoted to the front arm, L, of the frame J, attached to the post D. This latch engages with the cross-piece at, when the post D is inits forward position,with the movable front wall, G, extending from the side wall, A, to the end of the partition B, as represented in the left side of Fig. 1, and in Figs. 2, 3, and 4. 0 represents a wire or cord attached to the rear end of the latch 11., for releasing the same when desired.

p 1) represent sliding belts or other suitable catches attached to the lower ends of the postsD D, for securing the same in position.

hen. the front wall, O, is placed at right angles to the fixed partition 15, as represented on the left side of Fig. '1 and in Fig. 2, the bolts 1) 1') are engaged in catches q q, secured in the floor, and the upper end of the post D i front wall provided with a hinged gate, and

is held by the latch a, whereby the front wall, 0, is securely held in this position. The gate G, hung to the post D, can be opened and closed, as if the front wall, 0, were fixed. Upon withdrawing the bolts 11 p from the catches q q and releasing the latches a and g the post D can be pushed backwardly on the track F, the post D conforming to this movement by a movement in the direction of the traekE until the movable wall stands at right angles to its former position midway be tween the wall A and the partition B. In this position of the wall C the bolts 1) 1) project into catches 1-1, and the latch g of the gate G into a catch, 3, secured to the wall A. The gate forms in this position of the wall 0 a fixed portion of the wall, and is not swung on its hinges after having been secured in position.

T represents the hay-racks, and T the main gers, arranged in the corners of the box-stall, so as to answer fortwo separate stalls, asrcpresented on the right side of Fl 1.

It will be seen that by a very simple change in the position of the movable wall 0 a boxstall or two separate stalls may be formed as desired, thereby enabling a barn having room for two ordinary stalls to be provided with such stalls, and with the convenience of a boxstall at the same time without sacrificing any room, 'and at slight expense.

I am aware that it is not new to support the movable partition of'a stall by rollers and tracks overhead; and I do not broadly claim such construction.

I claim as my invention- 1. In aboX-stall, the combination of a movable front wall, with supporting-tracks and locking devices, whereby the front wall can be secured in a position in which it extends across the front of the stall, or in a position in which it divides the box-stall into two single stalls, substantially as set forth.

- 2. A box-stall constructed with a movable supported by rollers running on tracks overhead, and locking devices, whereby said movable front wall can be secured in position to close the front of the box-stall in connection with said gate, or to divide the box-stall into two single stalls, at desire, substantially as set forth. r

3. In a stall, the combination, with a movable wall, of two intersecting tracks secured overhead, and hangers and rollers whereby the movable wall is supported on said tracks, and adapted to be shifted from a positionparallel with the sides of the stall to a position closing the front of the stall, and vice Versa, substantially as set forth.

4. The combination, with the movable wall 0, of the intersecting tracks E F, and posts D D, secured to opposite ends of the wall '0, and supported each 011 one of the intersecting tracks, substantially as set forth.

5. In a stall, the combination,with a movable wall, 0, of intersecting tracks E F, posts D D, provided with supporting-rollers I, gate G, catch a, and bolts 1) p, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination, with the supportingpost, of a vertical bolt, j, frame J, swiveled on the bolt j, and provided with rollers I, substantially as set forth.

7. The eombination,with a supporting-post, of the vertical boltj, frame J, provided with arms L, and swiveled on said frame, vertical rollers I, mounted on the frame J, and horizontal rollers Z, mounted on the arms 'L, substantially as set forth.

8. The combination, with the supportingpost, of a vertical bolt, j, frame J, swiveled on 

